Romney taps trusted aide to lead search for running mate

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL -- Mitt Romney has asked Beth Myers, the manager of his 2008 campaign and a longtime trusted aide, to head up his search for a running mate, Romney advisers told NBC News on Monday.

Myers, who served as Romney's chief of staff during his tenure as Massachusetts governor and ran his 2008 campaign, is one considered to be one of Romney's closest -- and most tight-lipped -- political advisers.

"I've asked her to be the person who oversees the process of the vice presidential selection and vetting an analysis and so she's begun that process and is putting together the kinds of things you need to do to vet potential candidates," Romney told ABC News in an interview Monday.

Brian Snyder / Reuters

Mitt Romney has asked Beth Myers, the manager of his 2008 campaign and a longtime trusted aide, to head up his search for a running mate, Romney advisers told NBC News.

Romney also said in the interview that he only began seriously talking about selecting a vice president this weekend, while fundraising in Florida.

The presumptive Republican nominee declined to reveal names on his shortlist, but has in the past praised the deep bench of Republican governors and other legislators -- and said that his primary concern in selecting a running mate would be that the person be able to assume the presidency immediately, if necessary.

At a town hall event last September in Arizona, Romney praised former Vice President Dick Cheney, and suggested the former head of the Defense Department and one-time White House chief of staff had the kind of experience he would look for in selecting his own running mate.

"That's the kind of person I'd like to have -- a person of wisdom and judgement," Romney said of Cheney.